Dog Losing Hair Losing Weight

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Sometimes, hair loss is restricted to a relatively small area, but it can also occur all over your pet’s body. Likewise, hair loss can be the result of a relatively minor ailment, or it can be indicative of very serious health problems.

But no matter how much hair your dog is losing or what is causing the problem, you’ll want to address the issue promptly. Doing so will not only help eliminate unsightly bald patches, it’ll help ensure your dog remains healthy and happy too.

What Causes Hair Loss In Dogs?

We’ll discuss some of the most common causes of hair loss in dogs below. We’ll also try to help you figure out when you can treat it at home and when you need to go to the vet. We’ll conclude by explaining some of the most effective home remedies you may want to try.

Aside from a handful of hairless dog breeds, most dogs are covered in body hair (and, for the record, most “hairless” dogs still have

Among other things, body hair helps insulate a dog’s body and provide some protection from the elements. This not only includes things like rain and snow, but also the sun – many hairless breeds are actually quite susceptible to sunburn.

Why Is My Dog Losing Patches Of Hair

A dog’s hair grows out of follicles, just like human hair does. Also like humans, dogs produce a few different types of hair. For example, whiskers are a very different type of hair than the kind found on your dog’s back or shoulders.

Additionally, some dogs bear two types of coats – an undercoat and an outer coat. The undercoat is comprised of soft, downy hair which primarily serves as insulation, while the outer coat is made up of rougher, coarser hair which helps protect your dog’s body from water, thorns, claws, and other things.

It bears mentioning that some people use the term “fur” to refer to dogs who have a double coat, and the term “hair” to refer to dogs who have a single coat. However, this isn’t correct – fur and hair are, from a biological perspective, identical.

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But hair doesn’t last forever, and it eventually starts to breakdown. So, your dog’s body jettisons the old hair and replaces it with new hair periodically. A small amount of hair tends to shed more-or-less constantly, and most breeds also shed heavily once or twice a year.

Alopecia – the medical term for hair loss – occurs when a dog’s body sheds hair more quickly than it can be replaced. This can occur for a variety of reasons, which we’ll discuss further below.

But before we start talking about the reasons that dogs suffer from alopecia, we must discuss some of the patterns of hair loss that occur most frequently.

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Hair loss can occur in a variety of different ways, and the pattern in which your dog loses hair can have important implications for identifying the cause and determining the best treatment.

For example, hair loss sometimes occurs in a generalized fashion. In such cases, your dog’s entire coat may start to thin or fall out completely. In other cases, hair loss manifests in discrete locations, such as the haunches, ears, or face.

Additionally, hair loss can occur in dogs who appear otherwise healthy, as well as those who are suffering from other symptoms. For example, your dog may start acting lethargic at the same time he starts losing hair, or he may have sores or other skin problems associated with areas of hair loss.

Essentials For Helping Your Dog Lose Weight

The pattern of hair loss and the presence or absence of other symptoms are critical factors that must be considered when trying to determine the cause of the problem and devise a treatment strategy.

To treat hair loss, you must first identify the reason your dog is suffering from the problem. Dogs can lose hair for a wide variety of reasons, so we’ll touch on a few of the most common causes below.

A variety of common ectoparasites (those that attack the outside of your dog’s body) can cause dogs to lose hair. Fleas, demodectic mites, and sarcoptic mites are the most common parasites that cause canines to lose hair.

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Several bacterial strains, including many types of Staphylococcus bacteria, can cause dogs to experience skin and coat problems. In addition to hair loss, these types of infections can cause redness, swelling, and itchiness.

A variety of fungi can cause dogs to suffer from hair loss. Ringworm is one of the most common fungi to cause hair loss, although yeast organisms can also cause a dog’s hair to fall out. In many cases, fungal infections cause hair to fall out in discrete locations, rather than in generalized fashion.

Allergies in dogs – including those caused by environmental triggers as well as those associated with food allergies – often lead to skin and coat problems. In some cases, the allergy itself may cause the hair to fall out, but in other cases, the hair loss is the result of a dog’s scratching or chewing behaviors that the itchiness elicits.

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Autoimmune diseases occur when a dog’s immune system begins attacking his own body. There are a variety of different autoimmune diseases that affect dogs, and several of them – including, most notably, pemphigus foliaceus – can cause dogs to lose hair.

Cushing’s disease occurs when a dog’s adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. This causes a variety of different symptoms, including increased thirst, increased appetite, and the development of excessive body fat. Hair loss is also one of the symptoms commonly associated with the disease.

Hypothyroidism occurs when a dog’s thyroid gland fails to produce a sufficient level of thyroid hormones. Some of the most common signs of this condition include poor coat health and hair loss.

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A handful of breeds are susceptible to genetic conditions that cause hair loss. A few of the most commonly afflicted breeds include:

One of the simplest and most common reasons dogs experience localized hair loss is friction. For example, dogs forced to wear improperly fitting or excessively tight collars may lose hair around their neck. In other cases, pressure may cause your dog’s hair to fall out in isolated areas. For example, older dogs often develop bald patches on their elbows over time.

In addition to pathogens and hereditary ailments, hair loss is often associated with severe stress or anxiety in dogs. In some cases, the hair loss occurs as a direct result of the stress or anxiety, but it can also occur because a dog begins to chew on his skin in response to the stress he’s experiencing.

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Just like people, dogs often experience thinning hair as they age, so it’s not unusual for dogs to lose hair as they get older.

This can lead to bald spots at times, but it is important to ensure that your dog’s hair loss is not caused by an underlying condition before chalking it up to a normal part of the aging process.

In some cases, thinning hair or losing hair in patches may be related to your pup’s diet. Diet-related hair issues is often linked to poor skin condition, which may be caused by dehydration or an improper diet. Fortunately, these types of problems are usually easy to address by switching foods or adding a fish oil supplement to your dog’s food.

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Some types of hair loss characteristically occur in specific locations, perhaps providing clues to the cause of the problem. A few of the most common sites of hair loss are discussed below.

Hair loss around the ears is often – but not always – associated with external parasites. Mites are one of the most common causes of hair loss around the ears, but fleas and other parasites can also cause your dog’s ears to start losing hair. Yeast infections and ringworm can also trigger hair loss around the ears.

A variety of medical issues can cause dogs to experience hair loss on or around the face. Ringworm, for example, often occurs near a dog’s face, as can bacterial infections (particularly if the infection results from an injury).

Why Is My Dog Losing Hair In Patches?

Many dogs suffer from hair loss on the tail – particularly near the base of the tail. This can be caused by a number of different medical problems. Fleas are one of the most common causes of hair loss in this region. However, allergies and intestinal worms can also cause dogs to lick and bite this area, which may result in hair loss.

Hair loss on the belly can occur for a number of different reasons. Friction is often to blame in dogs who wear harnesses or other garments, but hair loss on the belly could also indicate that your dog is suffering from fleas or mites.

Hair loss around the paws is often the result of fungal infections, but it can also be caused by environmental allergies. It can even be the result of psychological problems, as frustrated or anxious dogs often chew on their paws.

Easy Ways To Help Your Dog Lose Weight

When canine hair loss is caused by minor conditions, such as fleas or friction, you can often treat the problem yourself. However, you’ll